untitled

on television
in a matter of seconds with quick
swipes of his hands
the Chinese face-changing master
changes innumerable painted faces
i wait for him to finally show
his true face
                           he never does

in front of the mirror
slowly painstakingly with downward
strokes of a cotton-pad
i wipe my unmade-up face
waiting to uncover a face
i would recognize as my own



4^th - 5^th February 2007